The more the Merrier: You crave what you are not digesting

By Susan Blackard R.N., N.D.c.

Information provided from this power point is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from a physician and/or other healthcare professional. The information provided is not to be, and should not be, used to diagnose or treat any medical or health conditions and/or as a prescription for the treatment of any disease, illness or health condition. The information provided in this power point should not be construed as personal medical advice or instruction. No action should be taken based solely on the contents of this power point. Readers should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being. The decision to quit any medication should be discussed with your doctor as a "risk/benefit" discussion.

Digestion refers to the breaking down of large food molecules into smaller food molecules in the body.

So that small food molecules can diffuse through the walls and enter bloodstream.

Starch and proteins are large food molecules that cannot pass through the

walls.

Body needs energy to do work. Nutrients include

◦ Carbohydrates Provide energy (growth, warmth, movement)

◦ Proteins For growth and regeneration of cells and tissues Repair of damaged tissues. Source of energy if carbohydrates and fats unavailable

Nutrients include◦ Fats

Provide energy Two times that of carbohydrates

Nutrients help◦ in our growth, ◦ by keeping us healthy, ◦ by repairing our cells and tissues, ◦ by giving us energy.

Enzymes are used to digest food◦ Carbohydrase / Amylase

Carbohydrates to Simple sugars◦ Protease

Proteins to Amino acids◦ Lipase

Fats to Glycerol and Fatty acidsWhat has caused the decrease of enzymes available for use:-____________________________________________________________________

Alimentary canal consists of the ◦ Mouth (20sec)

Starch (carbohydrate) is digested to maltose by carbohydrase / amylase

◦ Esophagus (10sec) Walls of the alimentary canal are made of muscles which squeezes

food along the canal.◦ Stomach (2-6hrs)

Produces gastric juice which mixes food when stomach churns. Protease in the juice breaks down complex proteins into simpler

ones

Liver◦ Makes bile

Greenish liquid which emulsifies fats, breaking them into smaller droplets, easier for lipase to digest it.

Gall bladder◦ Stores bile made by the liver to breakdown FAT

Pancreas◦ Creates pancreatic juice

Flows to small intestine and contain enzymes

Small intestine (5hrs)◦ Produces intestinal juice which contains enzymes◦ Completes the digestion process with the help of the organs

joined to the alimentary canal (liver, gallbladder, pancreas)

Digestion ends at the small intestine:◦

◦ Small molecules of digested food passes through the small intestine wall, into the bloodstream surrounding it.

Digested food◦ Made of small food molecules

Diffuse through walls of small intestine Into blood vessels in walls Carried away by blood to the rest of the body Called absorption of food

◦ Blood carries the small food molecules to the cells of the body where they can be used.

Finger-like villi◦ Provides large surface area ◦ Folds the cell membrane

7 m-long small intestine◦ Increases surface area

One-cell thick small intestine◦ Shortens distance between wall and bloodstream

Alimentary canal consists of the◦ Large intestine and anus (24hrs)

Undigested food reaches the large intestine Lots of water is removed and taken back into the body Pass out through anus as feces

Nutrients in foods◦ Carbohydrates and fats are used for respiration and as

sources of energy.◦ Proteins are used for growth and the repair of body tissues.◦ Starch and glucose are two kinds of carbohydrates.

Why digestion is needed◦ Only small molecules are able to pass through cell

membranes into cells.◦ Starch, fat and protein molecules are too large to pass

through.

Meaning of digestion◦ Digestion is the breaking down of large food molecules in

the body into small food molecules.◦ The small food molecules are: glucose (from starch), amino

acids (from proteins) and glycerol and fatty acids (from fats).

◦ Digestion takes place by the action of enzymes.◦ Every cell in the body needs nutrients◦ Absorption-the circulation of nutrients in the body◦ Elimination—Undigested waste material◦ Digestion cannot occur without ENZYMES

Bowel toxicity symptoms: constipation Anxiety depression ???__________________ ???__________________ ???__________________It’s more than what you eat-it’s about

what you digest and absorb.

The alimentary canal and digestion◦Mouth

Digestion of starch begins here.◦Stomach

Digestion of proteins begins here.◦Small intestine

Most digestion takes place here. Digestion of starch and proteins is completed here. Digestion of fats takes place only in the small intestine. Absorption

of digested food The small, digested food molecules are absorbed into the

bloodstream through the walls of the small intestine. The villi of the small intestine increase the surface area for faster

absorption of small, digested food molecules.

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Loomis, H. (2005). Enzymes The Key to Health. (2nd ed.). Wisconsin: American Printing.